The CBB :: View topic - Carola Storms the Chalet School

#1: Carola Storms the Chalet School Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 5:55 pm

I thought I'd start this one rolling. Normal questions. Favourites, pet hates. How realistic do you think it is for a girl to run away to school? How well do you think the school coped with it? What do people think of EBD's handling of the fire accident at the end, and her attitude to Grizel? (cf Ray's? fill in in the archives). Hope you don't mind me usurping, KB!! Laughing

#2: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 7:43 pm

Carola was the first CS book I read, I think, I borrowed from school and have never read it since so remember very little about it! All I do remember is that they went to Bosherston Lilly ponds, which is right next to my favourite beach in the world and I was dissappointed because they didn't go to the beach Exclamation

#3: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:46 pm

What just dawned on me (having started doing the transcript) is the odds on both the ship to Jamaica departing and the school returning on the same day - and Carola knowing which trains they were going on and when the buses met them. Otherwise she questioned Biddy O'Ryan way too closely not to arouse suspicen. Also didn't it occur to her that even if her cousin had agreed to her going then there is no way it could have been arranged between Christmas and 14th January, especially as there would have been noone at the school to reply for part of that period.

#4: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 1:31 pm

I think that Carola running away to school is definitely a device - it would be very unlikely to happen in real life, but at least it hadn't been done about fifty million times before (I'm scanning all the GO books I've read in my mind and I can't think of one where the heroine runs away to school, although there are loads where they have to fight to go there). I don't see that the School could have done anything other than they did do - I mean, they couldn't get hold of the parents (if I remember rightly), they could only cable the aunt, and they really had no other choice but to keep her.

#5: Author: Ruth, Location: Lincolnshire, England

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 2:03 pm

I think Carola running away to school is a good plot. I do think cousin mau(I think?) is rather silly not noticing the colour clothes Carola wants. The school could not have dealt with it in any other way and I think they coped with it well. I like the lily pond scene - a bit coincidental that another mistress meets a doctor there and marries him! I like the fire scene where Grizel sets Len on fire. There are no scenes that I dislike that I can think of.

#6: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 2:22 pm

I like the plot as it is quite unique, and its nice to have girl who actually wants to be at the school. It sets up a different perpective for a story. As for Grizel, I feel rather sorry for her. Yes she was a bit careless, but the balame given to her seems to be similar to the issues we have talked about surrounding Sybil. What was interesting is that in Reunion Grizel checks Len's arm for the burn. It's awful to think she's been carrying that guilt around for so long.

#7: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:42 pm

Which mistress meets a doctor in the lily pond scene?

#8: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:45 pm

I think it was Hilary Burn, but not sure about that?

#9: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:49 pm

Yes it was, as the doctor was Phil Graves. By the way have you noticed how similar were the way Hilary and Biddy met their husbands!!

#10: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:57 pm

How did Biddy meet hers?

#11: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:00 pm

She met him in Does it Again, when Margot fell into Lake Lucerne.

#12: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:04 pm

Oh yes I think I vaguely remember that. Does It Again is one of the ones I read from the library about a hundred years ago Smile

#13: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:21 pm

That makes you seem old Abi!

#14: Re: Carola Storms the Chalet School Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 6:55 pm

Lisa_T wrote:

Hope you don't mind me usurping, KB!! Laughing

It's fine, but you are early!

#15: Author: Helen, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:54 am

This is one of my favourites maybe for sentimental reasons because it was my first. I quite like Carola, it was a pity we didn't see more of her in the later books. I remembered when I first read of Grizel with the injury to Len, I felt quite upset and did I hate Grizel's stepmother. I felt glad for Grizel to get her chance in New Zealand. I understood the situaction better when I read the earlier books. I can't think of anything I didn't like. Yes, abit farfetched the running away to school but I still liked it.

#16: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:27 pm

Sarah_L wrote:

That makes you seem old Abi!

well, it's my three-hundred-and-seventy-ninth birthday next September!

#17: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:49 pm

Helen wrote:

I quite like Carola, it was a pity we didn't see more of her in the later books.

Actually, compared to other new girls, she gets quite a good go. There are mentions of her, if not appearances, in the following: Carola (well, duh!), Wrong, Shocks, Bride, Changes, Barbara, Does it Again, Mary Lou, Genius, Problem and Reunion!

#18: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:34 pm

I think it is believeable, although why she didn't pick on a state boarding school, for which she would have been eligible, given her parents were so far away. I knew of people who ran away and boarded at the same school they were day students at. And how did she know they could afford it. The beginning reminds me of the opening of Harry Potter II, and it makes me wonder if JKR is a closet fan. It's just the attitudes, the 'I didn't think' and odd things like that.

#19: Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 7:35 pm

*g* Of course. Carola didn't really go by train etc- that's a coincidence, her happening along at whatever just in time ti meet with the CS crowd- Ron and Co appeared at her window with that car of theirs! Laughing

#20: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:06 pm

*giggles at Lisa's idea*

#21: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:54 am

In general, I like the book because Carole herself has a bit of ummph and is giving the schoolgirl thing her best shot The initial premise though is weak: Cousin Maud's actions are very weird - Carola's parents entrust their one and only to her because they're going to be abroad for years which isn't deemed suitable for Carola. Then Maud marries and thinks it is suitable to take Carola with her to Jamaica or wherever! Am I missing something but shouldn't she have written to Carola's parents and said, I'm sorry, I'm getting married and would like my own life back, perhaps you could make alternative arrangements for your daughter, especially now that i'm off to Jamaica! I know the post would have been slow but getting married and making arrangements to emigrate can't happen overnight! Aside from that though, I do enjoy it but always felt the parents leaving daughter at age 8 and returning at age 14 was just a bit too close to kat Gordon's situation in Wrong - and surprising given the closeness of the books... As for Grizel - perhaps EBD felt that she had run her course as a teacher and wanted more for her so the best way to do it was to write her out ot NZ for a while? I do believe that Miss Annersley's extremely generous offer was the making of her ... Very Happy

#22: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 5:55 pm

I agree that Cousin Maud's behaviour is weird, but I suppose it's just a further example of her selfishness.

#23: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:38 pm

Having never read Carola, just the comments on here, Cousin Maud's behaviour certainly seems strange.

#24: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:43 pm

Sarah I can lend you a copy if you let me have your address.

#25: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:38 pm

I have a copy I'd be willing to sell having just brought the hb if you are interested pm me

#26: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:13 am

I quite like Carola as a story. But do find the beginning a bit contrived. I wonder if EBD wrote this and Shocks as alternatives to the same plot line? I mean she wrote about a girl running away to school then thought about what might happen if a girl arrived at the wrong school? How many of our drabbles have come about from a suggestion from someone or an idea comes from another drabble? Cousin Maud should never have had charge of a child - bit similar character to Annis's aunt. It never ceases to amaze me how many people had children then shoved them off onto someone else to look after.

#27: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 5:40 am

Sue, I think you mean "Wrong" rather than "Shocks".

#28: carola storms the chalet school Author: mohini, Location: india

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:50 am

I liked this book. And after reading the comments of others I start feeling that we should let the storeis reamin as storeis and not relate themselves to real life. Other wise we find many problems adn carry wrong impression. I did not like Grizel's character specially in later books. Cousin's Maud character is also very selfish. I tried to imagine going about places and travelling for so many years. It is mind boggling. One will start to feel bored with all the travel and its problem. And how did she have so much money to travel? Fave scene is where Carola gets an idea for the house. I have been tellng this story to my daughter and she aske dme do not the girls who make the house take part in the competition.? Upto what age do girls want to play with doll house can anyone tell me.

#29: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 8:07 am

I imagine they wouldn't be allowed to take part in the competitions.

#30: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:44 pm

Mohini - I expect that depends on the individual child - it's a bit like saying "at what age do you stop reading CS books?" !! Very Happy

I would imagine a creative child could carry on being interested for years, evolving stories around a doll's house etc - also girls with younger siblings who can "get away" with playing with "kids' toys" for longer because they're entertaining brothers or sisters ...........

#31: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 8:26 pm

KB wrote:

Sue, I think you mean "Wrong" rather than "Shocks".

Sorry yes I did. Another case of brain and fingers not in the same gear when typing - and lack of reading before posting.

#32: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 8:38 pm

That's okay, it happens to the best of us! Wink

#33: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 9:01 pm

Especially at the hours I have been here lately.

#34: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 9:09 pm

*huggles Sue!!*

#35: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:34 am

I loved carola. I loved how she ran away to school (I was so envious when I read it! Wish I had the same nerve) and I think she is a very loveable character. tis a pity we don't see more of her later. I particulary like how she apologises for everything by saying that she 'didn't think' (reminds me of my excuses when I was a kid), and how Miss Annersely picks up on this.

#36: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 4:23 am

Cousin Maud doesn't take Carola to Jamaica because she is getting married. She meets the man once in Jamaica. Maud writes to the Head saying that she (Maud) would have had to something with Carola had she (Carola) not run away to the CS since she (Maud) was now getting married. Persumably, she would have written the letter to Carola's parents that was suggested.

#37: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 2:20 pm

Meh. I don't like this book. When do we get a chance to talk about the next one? *is not in good mood*

#38: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 2:44 pm

I'll put the next one up now, Kate. Is there anything we can help with?

#39: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 3:57 pm

KB wrote:

I'll put the next one up now, Kate. Is there anything we can help with?

Aw. *huggles* I'm ok. Just a bit mood-swingy. Thank you anyway!

#40: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 4:03 pm

*gives Kate a big squishy huggle*

#41: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 4:15 pm

*joins in squishy hug, after making sure a pile of towels is waiting nearby*

#42: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:32 pm

uh, why do we need towels after a hug KB?

#43: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:40 pm

Because it's squishy, I suppose. *imagines huggle dripping with squish* Gross!

#44: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:44 pm

Exactly! *hands out towels*

#45: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 7:04 pm

Hmmm. *looks doubtful* Not sure if I want a huggle now.

#46: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 7:06 pm

Don't be a spoilsport, Nicci! It's fun!

#47: Author: Janet, Location: Ferndown, Dorset

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 10:35 pm

Yes I think you're right Chelsea but it still boggles the imagination that Maud can get engaged quite so rapidly! It is a fun book and I like the storyline of Carola hanging on Biddy's every word and endeavouring to be a "real CS girl"!

#48: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 6:58 am

*wonders if Janet has forgotten about Hilary Burn, Biddy O'Ryan, Grizel Cochrane, or the numerous others who fell in love and got engaged in less than a term*

#49: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 3:48 pm

Kate wrote:

Because it's squishy, I suppose. *imagines huggle dripping with squish* Gross!

Not so sure about these squishy huggles......... Confused

#50: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 7:05 pm

Then we won't invite you to join them, Vikki!

#51: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 10:42 pm

*feels snubbed now.....*

#52: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:13 pm

*runs over to give Vikki a hug

#53: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:57 pm

*huggles Chelsea back*

#54: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 12:04 am

*hug huggley hug hug hug hug hug*

#55: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:53 am

Vikki wrote:

*feels snubbed now.....*

Hey, you snubbed our huggles first! You really can't feel snubbed!

#56: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:01 pm

*leaves huggles lying around*

#57: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:45 pm

*treads in huggles* *squish squish squish* *goes off to put huggly footprints all over the rest of the board*

#58: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:50 pm

*joins in the fun*

#59: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 6:41 pm

*produces mop and bucket, before Liss sees the mess......*

#60: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 6:42 pm

*removes mop and bucket* It's not messy. It's merely re-arranged in a more pleasing manner

#61: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 6:47 pm

Well, I just hope Liss sees it that way......... Wink

#62: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:51 pm

Don't you like our huggly footprints, Vikki? *looks hurt* I thought they looked so pretty...

#63: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:52 pm

I think Vikki's having an off day. Wink

#64: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:07 pm

Maybe she needs some huggles.... *squelches over to Vikki to huggle her*

#65: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:16 pm

*watches Vikki flinch away and Abi start to cry*

#66: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:40 pm

Sends tissues for Abi

#67: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 11:09 pm

KB wrote:

*watches Vikki flinch away and Abi start to cry*

I'm sorry Abi! I didn't mean to upset you, but I have a headache, and I get a bit 'don't touch me it hurts' when I have a headache!

#68: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:39 am

*doles out tissues*

#69: Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 11:34 am

It's ok Vikki! *wipes away tears*

#70: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 2:56 pm

I think this was the book when I started wanting to run away to the CS myself. I started to wonder if it could possibly exist or if there was any school in the world like it and if there was I would manage to go there somehow! I like this book although I find the way Carola's parents are always gallivanting around the world frightfully repetitive. I mean, how many CS girls have a background of travelling or have parents who travel? Jane Carew, Mary-Lou, Verity-Ann, Lavender Leigh to name but a few. I like the way she runs away. It is far-fetched, but then EBD is. The idea of her suddenly finding herself in the middle of a new life always appealed to me. It's incredible to me how mistresses always fall in love with the first young doctor who comes along in the nick of time as soon as look at them!

#71: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:39 pm

I have to say I founf Carola's running away pretty unlikely, well not the fact of her trying to but that she succeeded... very EBD though I suppose. I quite like this book, the story with Hilary and Phil is sweet even if it is yet another teacher-doctor pairing plus Carola is a good character. The whole thing with Grizel on the otherhand... it annoys me just how her character becomes in the later books and whilst I like that she got to start again somewhere else I'm not sure about how it happened. She obviously carries around the guilt for a long time and I'm not sure Joey really helps that whatever she says. Of course the other thing that bugs me about this book is that (because I've only ever read Armada pbs) suddenly we have a mistress smoking where it's never happened before. Not EBD's fault but still annoying. *waves to Elisabeth* Congratulations on your first post Very Happy

#72: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:58 pm

*sulks* I was getting close to 100 posts on the old board. It took some time. Now I'm back to 1 (well, 2 now). I suppose it's a start.

#73: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:25 pm

Well you were well ahead of me on the old board then! I'm sure you'll catch up soon Very Happy

#74: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:45 pm

Not the way you're yibbling, Sarah!

#75: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:53 pm

Welcome back, Elisabeth - have you brought Annie as well?

#76: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 6:54 pm

The thing is that in the 1950s people *were* moving round a lot, at least in the class that would go to the CS. (Which would be my mother and aunt, now in their sixties, and daughters of Empire) I spoke to my mother about this, and at her school in kent, a good half had parents that travelled a lot, and would find themselves in school for some holiday or other. For a start, the end of empire meant that people were moving round the world, and being posted to another country, and then that country being overthrown (as happened to my grandfather, a botanist/research scientist). There were still some people around who did go on cruises, and you see the beginning of the aviation age in Wrong, which I found fascinating - by the time they get back the maynards are well-adjusted fliers.

#77: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 8:32 pm

I think that a lot of the reason those girls were at boarding school was because their parents were moving about so it didn't seem that strange to me

#78: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 8:41 pm

Quote:

daughters of Empire

Sorry, I'm really sure what this means (I'm assuming that they aren't daughters of Darth Vader Star Wars

Is it children of ex-pat Brits?

#79: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 8:43 pm

Yes, exactly. True Britist stock. All that nonsense.

#80: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 8:46 pm

Were you 'a daughter of the empire' even if your family was living in the UK? Or only if you were living in some other country?

#81: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 10:12 pm

*giggles at the thought of Darth Vader as a parent of a CS girl* Star Wars

#82: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 10:13 pm

Mum tells me that they considered those who worked for the gov, and had spent some time abroad, as being in that category, or those that worked supporting those overseas. I'm not sure how it works, but yes, one would assume that those at boarding school were there because of nomadic existences.

#83: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:26 am

Welcom back Elizabeth, nice to see you again

#84: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 9:13 pm

Very touched by everyone's welcoming back. Thank you v. much. Not only have I had to get round to registering on the new CBB but I'm realising to my horror that I haven't spent time on the CBB for ages, what with mock GCSEs etc. (I miss the "bleah" smiley) I haven't had time. Anyway, I'm going to start posting again in real earnest!

Rachael wrote:

Welcome back, Elisabeth - have you brought Annie as well?

I'm not sure if she's registered yet. She was raging rather about having to start all over again! But she's coming back as soon as she gets round to it - to enliven our lives a little Rolling Eyes

#85: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 12:59 am

I'm sure you'll get your 1000 posts soon Elisabeth.

#86: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:03 am

Elisabeth wrote:

I'm not sure if she's registered yet. She was raging rather about having to start all over again! But she's coming back as soon as she gets round to it - to enliven our lives a little Rolling Eyes

Well, we've all had to go through it!

#87: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 3:13 pm

And some have been more successful than others. Smile

#88: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 7:30 pm

Herm, yes, thank you, Sarah... Embarassed

#89: Author: Elisabeth,

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:28 pm

According to my calculations, KB, you must have been posting at a rate of approximately 124 posts per day! That's more than I managed since September!

#90: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:34 pm

More than that, actually. If you click on my profile, it will tell you exactly how many... Embarassed

#91: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:38 pm

any one ever tell you you yibble too much girl?

#92: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:44 pm

I believe that has been mentioned once or twice, yes... Embarassed

#93: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:47 pm

claire wrote:

any one ever tell you you yibble too much girl?

Frequently....... Wink

#94: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 7:36 pm

Pot. Kettle. Black. Just three words that sprang into my mind then Vikki. Razz

#95: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 7:46 pm

Can't imagine why!!! Wink

#96: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:58 pm

But KB still yibbles nearly twice as much as I do...... Wink

#97: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:23 pm

And you yibble more than twice as much as anyone else. Razz

#98: Author: Ray, Location: Bristol, England

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:27 pm

Though some of us seem to be doing our best to catch up ) Ray *fitting the cap herself* *knows she has a very long way to go*

#99: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:30 pm

*blushes*

#100: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 7:56 am

*is glad Vikki has the grace to do so*

#101: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:02 am

*is glad Vikki has the grace to do so*

#102: Author: LL, Location: Tottenham to Camberwell - The London Rollercoaster!

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:16 pm

carola running away to school makes a change. she's an interesting character. Very Happy

#103: Author: Janet, Location: Ferndown, Dorset

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:53 pm

I like Carola too! Feisty but in a nice way and Cousin Maud would frustrate anyone!And who wouldn't be attracted to the idea of school if you heard someone lke Biddy on the subject - I can just imagine her telling all the stories in her rich Irish brogue!!I like her signature line too - "I . I didn't think"!!

#104: Author: LL, Location: Tottenham to Camberwell - The London Rollercoaster!

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:31 am

That's a point, Janet! Laughing

#105: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:26 pm

I have to celebrate. I've just offered to buy KB's Carola, so I'm going to have my own copy of the book!!! Very Happy

#106: Author: LL, Location: Tottenham to Camberwell - The London Rollercoaster!

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:50 pm

Good on ya, Sarah! Everybody dance! Very Happy

#107: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:12 pm

*joins in dancing*

#108: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 3:40 pm

Good for you Sarah

#109: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 12:58 pm

KB wrote:

*joins in dancing*

Not surprised you're dancing KB. After me, you get the best out of me getting Carola. A nice little package with money. Razz

#110: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 2:05 pm

I'm not spreeing here - I think it's long enough after my last post and it is a different subject. In Carola, at half term when Carola and Jean are allowed to wander around Carnbach, why is Carola surprised when a particular house turns out to be Jo's? She went there at the start of term with her father, so you think she'd remember it. Confused

#111: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 4:59 pm

That one always bugged me Sarah!! the short explanation is that it's another EBDism...... Rolling Eyes

#112: Author: claire, Location: South Wales

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 6:25 pm

Maybe it was dark when she first went there? Or she was blindfolded because Anna had been ill and so the place was untidy and Jo couldn't have a CS girl knowing she wasn't perfect?

#113: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 6:54 pm

As a kid I assumed it was cos they'd used the back door the first time & this was the front of the house (probably cos people used to think the back of our house was a different house to the front of it)

#114: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 7:03 pm

I've had that happen a couple of times, not, I hasten to add, because I live in an enormous mansion, but because the house is on a corner with a door visible from both roads.

#115: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 2:04 pm

This always bugged me too, my simple (in my mind) explanation for it is that they came from a different direction than Carola did the first time and the house looked different to her.

#116: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 2:47 pm

There's a bit of discussion about this in the Random Archive. I think the basic conclusion if that it's (yet another) EBDism.

#117: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 2:50 pm

Has to be put when I first read Carola I had never heard of EBDisms.

#118: Author: Carola, Location: Either Nepal or Birmingham!

Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 5:38 pm

Just feel obliged (for the sake of my name) to put a word in for "Carola Storms.....". Was my first CS book and it got me hooked! I think there's something in it which appealed to a 14 year old girl in hospital, miserable after wisdom teeth were taken out! Wished I could have run away to anywhere...even school!

#119: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 6:06 pm

I like Carola, mainly because she's not a stock new girl - she's got a lot of personality. It was also good to see the return of Biddy O'Ryan who was always a favourite of mine. I did think the 'cooking disaster' storyline had just about worn thin by this point, though.

#120: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 11:15 pm

Just reading Carola for the first time (PB), and find Daisy addressing Carola as the girl who ran away to school far more glaring than Carola not recognizing the house. Why didn't Jean react at all? [ETA: Realizing this sounds familiar because Gigagal brought it up before see http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/carolassecret.htm ] And how does Daisy know, when the rest of the staff aren't informed until two chapters later? Does Jo have a big mouth? Or is that a rhetorical question? Also the idea that Con sleepwalks and wakes up screaming because of Signa's Norse tales seems awfully reminiscent of the results of Biddy's banshees. *wonders if this is subconscious, because of Biddy's prominence in Carola.*

Matey wrote:

I must see Bill about this. I’m having no somnambulism in the School if I know it.

good thing it's curable with hot milk Laughing

#121: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:07 pm

The only thing I ever noticed was the 'oh, the girl that ran away to school' when none of the pupils knew. That's the only EBDism I've EVER spotted lol! Ok..er... Favourite scene: Where Carola has the idea for the house Least favourite: At Bosherton. Signa is REALLY irritating! Oh, actually. My least favourite quote in the WHOLE series (well basically, anywayit actually makes me laugh when I read it) : If ever Carola Johnstone could do anything for Mrs Maynard she would do it, regardless of any cost to herself.' I just don't think it's realistic! After what - three days? How realistic do you think it is for a girl to run away to school? Reasonably so...if you'd been in that postition and were really desperate. But I do think it unrealistic that all the dates coincided so well! How well do you think the school coped with it? Well. I cant think of anything to put, I didnt really think about it. What do people think of EBD's handling of the fire accident at the end, and her attitude to Grizel? I think she thought perhaps she'd exhausted Grizel as a character she hasn't featured particularly for the last few books and was just a stand-on character. The only thing I ever wondered about was: Wouldnt you blow a match out before you threw it into the fireplace? Or could it catch fire anyway? Confused

Oh, I also think the scene was rather rushed - you don't really see its impact at all and it seems she just wanted to include a particularly exciting event in the book, and threw it in.

The CBB -> Book Discussions

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod, All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Page 1 of 1